Sen. Tammy Baldwin defends actions in Tomah VA investigation

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Sen. Tammy Baldwin is responding to an accusation that she didn't do enough to bring attention to overprescription of opiates at the VA Medical Center in Tomah.

Baldwin's office received a report on the problems in August from the Department of Veterans Affairs' inspector general. Baldwin shared the report with a constituent but didn't publicize it more widely until last week, after a report was published on the death of a Marine Corps veteran being treated at Tomah.

Baldwin then called on the VA secretary to order a comprehensive investigation at Tomah.

Two Republican state representatives wrote to Baldwin, a Democrat, asking her why she didn't do more with the report.

In a statement, Baldwin detailed her efforts last year to get the VA to look into complaints about Tomah.